Mews at St. Mary wins 2026 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Housing Development
Congratulations to Diocesan Housing Services Corporation (DHSC) and project partners CVS Health and The Walters Group, on the selection of The Mews at St. Mary as a 2026 Governor’s Excellence in Housing Award winner in the Excellence in Housing Development category. The Excellence in Housing Development Award recognizes an exceptional project that provides high-quality, affordable housing options to meet the diverse needs of residents.
“We congratulate this year’s award winners for their contributions to our state,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie R. Walter in a statement announcing the awards. “They represent the considerable creativity and effort that goes into creating and preserving high-quality affordable housing, revitalizing neighborhoods, and making a difference in their community.”
We congratulate this year's award winners for their contributions to our state. They represent the considerable creativity and effort that goes into creating and preserving high-quality affordable housing, revitalizing neighborhoods, and making a difference in their community.
NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie R. Walter
Thriven Design provided architectural, interior design and building engineering services for The Mews at St. Mary, a 75-unit residence for older adults constructed on the campus of Our Lady of Peace parish in Williamstown, NJ.
Apartments at The Mews at St. Mary are available to adults 62 and older with economic need. The apartments feature individual heating and air conditioning, energy efficient appliances and fixtures, quartz countertops and roll-in showers. Residents have access to a spacious multi-purpose room, outdoor patio, covered pavilion, laundry room on every floor, and ample tenant parking. Units are pre-wired for cable and internet, 5 percent are fully wheelchair accessible and the remaining apartments are adaptable to meet resident needs in the future.
The Mews at St. Mary features on-site property management, coordination of food and transportation access, and wellness services provided by VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services and Catholic Charities of South Jersey.
The Mews at St. Mary’s selection as a 2026 Excellence in Housing Development winner is the 17th recognition of a Thriven Design project at the Governor’s Awards since their inception in 1996. Thriven Design has provided multidisciplinary services for:
2026: Mews at St. Mary, Excellence in Housing Development Award Winner
2025: Jonathan Sinay Building, Adaptive Reuse Transformation Award Winner
2024: Village at Harmony Garden, Adaptive Reuse Transformation Award Winner
2024: Autumn Ridge at Manitou Park, Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award Winner
2023: Barclay Place Apartments, Excellence in Housing Development Award Winner
2019: Dr. Lena Frances Apartments, Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award Winner
2019: Camp Salute, Leading Supportive Housing Development Award Winner
2017: Riverfront Village at Pennsauken, Housing Revitalization Award Winner
2014: Dr. Walter G. Alexander Village (Phases I & II), Leading Housing Revitalization Award Winner (Rental)
2014: Manitou Park Neighborhood Revitalization, Leading Housing Revitalization Award Winner (Homeownership)
2014: Van Sciver Supportive Housing, Leading Supportive Housing Development through Creative Partnerships Award Winner
2009: Sharp Road Family Housing, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award Winner
2006: Faison Mews, Outstanding Green/Sustainable Development Award Winner
2004: Metropolitan Inn & J. Frank Budd Building, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award Winner
2002: Westport Homes / Elizabethport HOPE VI, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award Winner
2001: Eastampton Town Center, Outstanding Green/Sustainable Design Award Winner
1996: Fairmount Apartments, Project of the Year Winner
To learn more about Thriven Design’s multifamily housing design, visit: https://thriven.design/expertise/
